COIN-OP GAME ROOM, A NEW ARCADE BAR, DEBUTS IN FORMER DRAKE/ORSON SPACE NEXT WEEK

Written by Jay Marmann in Food | 12/13/16

Photos courtesy of Coin-Op

We heard about it back in April, and it has finally arrived: Coin-Op Game Room, an arcade bar mini-chain launched in San Diego that opened a second location in Sacramento in 2015, will open its third and latest location in SoMa next week, in the palatial space that was once home to Elizabeth Falkner's Orson, and more recently the nightclub Drake, at 508 4th Street.

It's actually a pretty excellent use of the two-level industrial space, with games and couches up on the mezzanine as well as games flanking the horseshoe-shaped bar that anchors the center of the main room.

Executive Chef Mark Bolton, who's also behind the team's San Diego spot The Lion's Share, will utilize the big kitchen that's already there to produce wood-fired pizzas and shareable bar food like corn dog bites, deviled eggs, and chicken and waffles (portioned for two, four, six, or eight). And bar manager Jason Huffman, who also helped open Roka Akor in SF, is doing the cocktail menu.

Using Tron as inspiration, Coin-Op was designed by SF-based design firm sfHEIMAT, and the upstairs includes "a Tron-themed speakeasy called The Grid where guests can enjoy cocktails unique to the space," according to a release. You can also expect some table bases made of Legos, and Super Mario Brothers and Pac-Man-themed wallpaper in the restrooms.

Coin-Op is the second arcade bar to open in town following on Brewcade last year, and there are two more (that we know of) on the way: Emporium SF in the historic Harding Theater on Divisadero, and Skillshot Pinball and Bar headed to Bernal Heights.

Like at Brewcade, the vintage arcade games and pinball machines at Coin-Op will be rotated on a monthly basis. But the opening selection includes Revenge from Mars, Ghostbusters LE, and Attack from Mars pinball machines; Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Street Fighter, Burgertime, Q'bert classic arcade games; as well as Big Buckhunter, Time Crisis 2, Frightmareland, and two 'pop a shot' basketball hoops.